State suspends licenses for not paying taxes

Some 8,900 New Yorkers have had their driver’s licenses suspended for not paying taxes, with nearly $56.4 million in state and local taxes collected as a result, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

Legislation was signed into law last year allowing licenses to be suspended for those that owe more than $10,000 in back taxes.

“We are sending a clear message to tax delinquents that they either have to pay the taxes they owe or face real consequences,” Cuomo said in a statement. “For many, this message is getting through and, as a result, thousands of people have come forward to do the right thing and find a way to pay their taxes. Those who haven’t are losing their driver’s licenses.”

More than 17,700 drivers were contacted beginning last August, in the first round of notifications. Although 8,900 suspensions were levied, another 6,500 who owed taxes have paid in full or are making payments on their debt and 2,300 were found to be ineligible for suspension, Cuomo said.

The $56.4 million in payments is 34 percent more than initial estimates of $42 million for the program.